JTN back in BJP office, extends support to Tashi
Sajjad Kargili too jumps into fray for Ladakh seat
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, May 3: In a major setback to the Congress in Ladakh, its top leadership in Kargil district has extended support to National Conference district president Haji Hanifa Jan, who today filed nomination papers as an Independent candidate though the Congress high command has fielded Tsering Namgayal as its nominee for the Parliamentary seat in the UT.
Prominent Kargil leader Sajjad Kargili, who finished second in 2019 Parliamentary poll behind the BJP, also jumped into the fray today. However, the BJP received a shot in the arm when sitting MP Jamyang Tsering Namgayal, who had virtually revolted against the party decision to deny him mandate, reaching the party office in Leh and lend support to BJP candidate Tashi Gyalson, Chairman-cum-CEC Leh Autonomous Hill Development Council.
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Today was the last day for filing nomination papers for lone Ladakh Parliamentary seat which will go to polls in fifth phase on May 20.
Though covering candidates of BJP, Congress and Independents are also in the fray, it will be a four-cornered contest for Ladakh seat among Tashi Gyalson (BJP), Tsering Namgayal (Congress), Sajjad Kargili and Haji Hanifa Jan, both Independents.
Gyalson is sitting Chairman-cum-CEC Leh Autonomous Hill Development Council while his Congress rival Tsering Namgayal is Leader of Opposition (LOP) in the Council. Sajjad Kargili is a prominent leader of Kargil district and was a key figure in the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) which along with Leh Apex Body (LAB) spearheaded the agitation for Statehood and Sixth Schedule to Ladakh.
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Haji Hanifa Jan is district NC president who has the backing of entire NC leadership of district Kargil and prominent Congress leaders of the district including Haji Asgar Ali Karbalaie, working president of Congress for Ladakh, Nassir Hussain Munshi, district Congress president and majority of other senior leaders. Jan is former Chairman-cum-CEC Kargil Hill Development Council.
Senior NC leaders Qamar Ali Akhoon and Feroz Khan among others also accompanied Jan when he filed the papers before the Returning Officer in Kargil.
As per INDIA bloc agreement, Ladakh seat had gone to Congress along with Jammu and Udhampur while three seats of Kashmir are being contested by the National Conference. Congress UT chief Rigzin Jora has lamented the NC decision to field their district president from Ladakh. However, there has been no reaction from NC leadership including Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah on the breach of INDIA block agreement.
Kacho Feroz Khan, Executive Councilor of Kargil Council and a prominent Congress leader filed his papers as covering candidate for Hanifa Jan. Besides, journalist from Kargil Ghulam Nabi Zia has also filed his papers for Ladakh seat.
Stanzin Lakpa, Councillor in Kargil Hill Council has filed papers as covering candidate for BJP nominee Tashi Gyalson while Smanla Dorje Nurboo submitted papers as covering candidate for Congress representative Tsering Namgayal.
“I am not fighting on behalf of the National Conference or the Congress but represent the KDA,” Haji Hanifa Jan told reporters after filing his nomination.
Congress district chief Nassir Munshi also defended Jan’s joining the fray saying: “Some people in Delhi are taking decisions sitting in the air-conditioned rooms without knowing the ground reality. We had several rounds of discussions with the party high command and we have decided to support Jan’s candidature who is KDA’s candidate.”
They said Jan’s fighting elections will have no bearing on the KDA and the unity with LAB. “Both these represent the people of Ladakh and will continue to fight for their four-point agenda.”
Sajjad Kargili who also filed his nomination papers as an Independent candidate said he will become the voice of the people. Kargili had also fought the 2019 Parliamentary elections and was defeated by the BJP candidate.
BJP’s incumbent Ladakh MP Jamyang Tsering Namgayal, who had “revolted” against the Central leadership for not giving him ticket, on Friday pledged his support to party candidate Tashi Gyalson, ending more than a week of uncertainty in the party camp.
Accompanied by his supporters, BJP MP Namgayal reached party headquarters in Leh and extended his support to Gyalson, who is also the Chairman-cum-CEC of LAHDC, Leh.
“I have not rejoined the BJP which is my home and my family. Differences do crop up sometimes within a family but I am not angry with the BJP, (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi or Gyalson. I am sure the BJP will continue its winning streak in the Ladakh Lok Sabha seat and Ladakh will be one among our target of 400 seats in the general elections,” he told reporters.
Namgayal said they will take whatever steps needed for the bright future of Ladakh, to meet aspirations of the people and ensure security of the region.
“I have learnt from the party that nation comes first, party second and self last… We have started campaigning for the party candidate,” he said.
Congress candidate Tsering Namgayal filed his nomination papers on Thursday, and said the party’s manifesto contains including Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
“We support the four-point demand of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and KDA, and we will forcefully raise the demands within and outside the Parliament to fulfil aspirations of the people,” he said, seeking support from the voters across the Union Territory.
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